Big 12 football agrees on 10-game schedule with mid-to-late September conference start
The Big 12 has settled on a football scheduling format for the upcoming season amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The league presidents decided on a plus-one model Monday night in which teams would play nine conference games and one nonconference game at home, the conference announced.
The league will start the season in mid-to-late September with the expectation that nonconference games are played prior to Big 12 play. The model also gives the conference flexibility to move its championship game back to Dec. 12 or Dec. 19.
“I would like to salute the work of our university presidents and chancellors, athletics directors, coaches, medical advisors and administrators who have worked tirelessly and collaboratively during these extraordinary times,” Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby said in a news release. “We believe this change provides the best opportunity going forward. However, we will undoubtedly need to be flexible as we progress through the season in order to combat the challenges that lie ahead.”
This schedule aligns the Big 12 with other Power Five conferences (SEC, Big Ten, Pac-12) with at least 10 games. The ACC could possibly play 11 games. The SEC, Big Ten and Pac-12 are going with conference-only schedules. The ACC has a 10-game conference-only schedule with an option for one nonconference game.
It’s unclear when the Big 12 will start its season, but a news release suggested mid-to-late September. As of now, a few teams including TCU are preparing for a possible Week Zero game on Aug. 29.
A TCU source said the school is waiting on more direction from the league before finalizing its nonconference opponent and date. It will not be SMU, a source said, and the Horned Frogs will not be opening the season at UNLV in a Week Zero game on Aug. 29 as had been expected if the Big 12 opted for a full 12-game season.
The Horned Frogs have also been linked to possibly hosting Tennessee Tech for its home opener on Sept. 12. That game has not been finalized, though.
This story was originally published August 3, 2020 at 8:56 PM.
